126 Comments

General CommentActually, I think it's written from someone who has an admirer, but she is fighting it. Maybe she's been hurt in the past, or she's not ready for something so serious. So she scoffs at him.

It's sort of like three stages. At first, she's like "Yes, thank you I'm flattered. But I just cannot do thi snow."

Then she goes to stage two. The music builds a little more. "Look, I understand. And you must really like to make me squirm and feel all uncomfortable, right? But I am NOT interested. No matter how much I want to, I can't."

Then stage three. She's almost like putting her foot down. "I know you think you love me, but you don't! You think you know love? You think you've ever experienced anything like MY love before? You have to stop! This is not allowed!" And the music crescendos and builds until.....

It's all suddenly calm. And then finally, the end. She caves in. "I don't think you unworthy of my love.....I just need to think about this before I plunge right in."

And then I like to think that the sudden crash of the music back to the heavy stuff is her deciding, plunging in dramatically, and ultimately being happy.

I think edbear's interpretation (on the first page) is the closest, in my opinion, to what I think the song is about. If the song was written for 'City of Angels' (where it appears) then subwoofer's (again on first page) is the best fit.

From the research that I did into when the song was released, when the movie was released and filmed, and the original intention to never have this song as a single for Alanis - I think subwoofer's post is the most accurate.

It's really interesting to read the interpretations of what the song means to different people. The most unique that I read was when it was written that it was about having a secret admirer/crush and the recipient not having asked for that person to have those feelings.

In my experience, it's very rare to have two people immediately want to pursue a relationship with each other, and therefore one person has a crush on the other and tries to get closer to them to get to know them (ie. getting to know someone before dating). Based on this I find it shocking to read that the meaning of the song, to some people, is that of a secret admirer revealing a crush and the recipient feeling violated. It's almost like saying/feeling that the giver's love is not good enough for the recipient and they want nothing to do with it.

If anyone is in that position here - that person (who thinks they are too good for your love - really isn't good enough to have your love.

Anyway, that was my little rant. Great song though... I do think edbear and subwoofer are the closest though.

I agree with you edbear0817. I enjoy all of Alanis Morissette songs, but this one just speaks more openly to me. It's almost as if this song for me symbolizes a reluctancy towards love. Speaking from experience, I know how frustrating it can be to earn others respect or rather have others look up to you. Trying to keep that sense of mind frame together with people that are attracted to you can be difficult. Especially when you come to terms that you can't control what others feel for you. But that's a whole other story!
I believe that this song is about a girl. whom of which has captured the eye of a boy who falls for her.(I can see how the idea of love could seem very delightful.) But she is very quick to turn him down because of her uncertainty. Still, I think that she takes into consideration that if he can make her feel this uneasy. Then perhaps she feels something for him as well.Which leads her to ponder a pone the idea of actually loving him. Basically it's like a game of tug of war.
But There was one sentence that I couldn't understand,"To watch shepherd meet shepherd." I was told that that line was incorrect. It was meant to say,"To watch them burn me, Shepard." Which means,someone taking pleasure in watching someone that is normally stable,crash and burn. Then again, I was told by another person that it was the correct line and that it means. Two lonely people, people are alone, without a partner. I'm still not sure. :)

Though I think that this song is written in the form of the relationship between the two characters in the movie.

I agree with all of the steps that it went through, each a little more firmer, each reveiling a little bit more about her feelings, she was discovering her own feelings in the song she did not even know.

But, in my opinion, everytime she said, "You, you're not allowed, you're uninvited, an unfortunate slight" she is refering to their differences in between the two characters in the movie.

In the verses she was talking about their equalities and about him and her and the love they have for each other, but then she remembers he is an angel, he is uninvited, and unfortunate slight of plans. So everytime she builds herself up in the verses then at the end she sees the reality of it all.

But i guess it depends on the person and their outlook, that is why i like Alanis Morissette's songs, everytime you hear any of her songs you have to dig deep and find a meaning, all her songs are deep, and they all describe one of her emotions, she holds nothing back. She is the most talented artist in my eyes.

She will never die as long as i keep playing her songs... (Hence) her songs are her life.

General CommentFrom what I see in this song this is a woman trying to tease her love interest into higher desire.
She is telling him/her that she is flattered but only wanted an object to crave. In other words saw him/her as nothing but a casual encounter.
Now she goes on to say that he/she is uninvited to be with her but that this is an unfortunate slight.
In other words she doesn't really want to put him/her off but she is letting him/her go to see if they will come back with even more passion.
Notice, the music increases in passion after this is said.
Now she tells him/her it must be strangely exciting to see the stoic squirm. Here she is referring to herself trying not to show interest but tearing herself up inside.
Here is the interesting part where she refers to Shepard meet Shepard - two people that lead the flock.
This is an alpha meets alpha situation. The union will be really hot when it happens. The music gets more passionate as the sexual tension between the two increases.
She pushes him her away yet again by saying he/she is not allowed/invited an unfortunate slight. She is killing herself by doing this but knows the end result will be the craving she desires.
Now the words to the next phrase speak for themselves. When she is showing uncharted territory - using herself as strong bait but still holding him off for even more passion. The music starts to go crazy as I can imagine the sexual tension gets to the point where it is impossible to bear.
Then the music goes almost silent as if she is finally released. she tells him/her that she doesn't think him/her unworthy giving him hope but then she takes it away again when she says "I need a moment to deliberate."
The music goes nuts as the passion must as well and then the song completes leaving it open ended and up to your imagination.

@isaacgesser
I agree, I would add I think it's with a man, it's just the way I hear it, and I think he is married, I can't think of a better reason to put a wall up and not pursue this passion....but he's not allowed, he's uninvited an unfortunate slight. He's off limits, hence married, he's uninvited, she doesn't want to have an affair, an unfortunate slight, she has a wall up but regrettably so.
I agree with how her resolve weakens as the tempo gets stronger and also the lyrics suggest this. I believe at the end, when she says "I don't think you unworthy, I just need a moment to deliberate" the music gets very aggressive and climaxes, and in my opinion, she gives in finally to her passions.
I think the music goes quiet because its the calm before the storm, her choice that will bring a storm of passion and craziness. But I also see your interpretation as well, that she is released.
Again, the uncharted territory, I see a man who is married and in a loveless marriage and wants the woman in the song, and he cant have her....yet.
You wrote in the beginning "From what I see in this song this is a woman trying to tease her love interest into higher desire." I too think she is teasing him into higher desire I also agree with the classic subconscious pushing him away to see if he'll come back, and back hotter and wanting her more.
I think when she says "like any hot blooded woman, I have simply wanted an object to crave" I don't see that necessarily as a casual encounter, a craving can be satisfied quickly, but usually if we crave something, we crave it over and over again and continue to need the craving satisfied.
This just my two cents piggy backing off of your interpretation.

@isaacgesser
I agree, I would add I think it's with a man, it's just the way I hear it, and I think he is married, I can't think of a better reason to put a wall up and not pursue this passion....but he's not allowed, he's uninvited an unfortunate slight. He's off limits, hence married, he's uninvited, she doesn't want to have an affair, an unfortunate slight, she has a wall up but regrettably so.
I agree with how her resolve weakens as the tempo gets stronger and also the lyrics suggest this. I believe at the end, when she says "I don't think you unworthy, I just need a moment to deliberate" the music gets very aggressive and climaxes, and in my opinion, she gives in finally to her passions.
I think the music goes quiet because its the calm before the storm, her choice that will bring a storm of passion and craziness. But I also see your interpretation as well, that she is released.
Again, the uncharted territory, I see a man who is married and in a loveless marriage and wants the woman in the song, and he cant have her....yet.
You wrote in the beginning "From what I see in this song this is a woman trying to tease her love interest into higher desire." I too think she is teasing him into higher desire I also agree with the classic subconscious pushing him away to see if he'll come back, and back hotter and wanting her more.
I think when she says "like any hot blooded woman, I have simply wanted an object to crave" I don't see that necessarily as a casual encounter, a craving can be satisfied quickly, but usually if we crave something, we crave it over and over again and continue to need the craving satisfied.
This just my two cents piggy backing off of your interpretation.

General CommentI think this is about someone being having a secret admirer reveal themself to her. She is flattered, but feels violated at the same time. This is someone who has thought of her in ways she did not ask for. She needs time to absorb this and he doesn't seem to want to give it to her.

I think this is a great song because we always think of having a secret admirer as a GOOD thing, but it is really just a few steps short of stalking. The woman in this song is trying to figure out which is which.

General CommentI have a new interpretation....
I think this could be about a woman propositioning her.
She has never considered a lesbian relationship before and dismisses it at first - but the last line.....well she's considering it now.

I tend to agree with that one. For me, "not allowed" is as much a keyword as is "uninvited", and it could point to a woman in love with her.

However, there are plenty of lines in that song that point to plenty of other meaings. It's pretty unspecific and and therefore could be applied to a lot of situations- forbidden relationship, media, "City of Angels"...

General CommentI dont think that it is at all about rape or stalking, maybe a relationship where the feelings arent on the same level, but she clearly returning affection to some point. I do think tachere's theory about a pregnancy is interesting, but sounds more like from a fling if that is the case.
I think the word "Uninvited" is being taken way to literally. I think she has been hurt terribly before and had her defenses up as a result, was just looking for something safe "I simply wanted an object to crave"
and she wasnt prepared for someone so dedicated to her, and I think she is scared and unsure, but falling hard, hence, "you, you're univited, an unfortunate slight" maybe she isnt literally rejecting him, but she is realing from her unexpecting feelings and fear of falling in love and being hurt, she is playing distant with him because she is scared and completely confused. You, you're uninvited, you tore down my wall and got to my heart again.

General CommentI'm completly confused as to how anyone could think this song is about rape, as it doesn't relate to the song at all:? I think it's probably about an unwanted admirerer.

However, I thought it might have some religous undertone instead. This idea comes from the "shepered" bit, which makes no sense unless it had something to do with christianity, and the fact that, from what i've heard, Alanis "found God" around the time of writing this song. Maybe it's about accepting Jesus or something. Just an idea...

General CommentWhat I want to know is what does she mean by "It must be somewhat heartening to watch Shepard meet Shepard..."

I wanna say that with two people wanting each other she says they cant because these two people are the same in destiny and their path in life wont work out in being with each other... Make sense to anyone, let me know.